Club captain Mark Noble has made 564 appearances for West Ham. Getty
Club captain Mark Noble has made 564 appearances for West Ham. Getty
Club captain Mark Noble has made 564 appearances for West Ham. Getty
Club captain Mark Noble has made 564 appearances for West Ham. Getty

Sport

Football

Mark Noble: even West Ham winning Europa League will not stop me from retiring

Hammers face Eintracht Frankfurt in semi-final first leg at London Stadium on Thursday

The National

April 27, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

West Ham veteran Mark Noble has insisted that even if the club win the Europa League, he will not be reversing his decision to retire at the end of the season.

The Hammers take on German side Eintracht Frankfurt in their semi-final first leg at the London Stadium on Thursday.

READ MORE

Ralf Rangnick says Manchester United 'need to be realistic' about Champions League talk

Noble, 34, has made 564 appearances for the club and admits it “would be a dream come true” to finally lift a major trophy for his beloved Clarets.

But even if West Ham beat Frankfurt over two legs and are then victorious in the final, being held at Seville's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium on May 18, there will be no U-turn on his retirement plans.

“I’ve been asked this question so many times by so many people,” the club captain said. “The reason we would get into the Champions League is by winning the Europa League.

“Winning the Europa League and lifting the trophy, would I come back? No. And that’s my honest answer. To end on that would be pretty special.

“I was joking with the lads the other day, saying if that did happen, I’d happily come watch the Champions League games with the Europa League trophy on the next chair. But that is way down the line.

“This season for me, after announcing that this would be my last, has been special. It’s not over yet.

“We’ve got an incredible game here and probably a bigger game in a week’s time. To be able to enjoy that with the West Ham fans, with the players and staff, is an incredible achievement.”

Frankfurt are currently ninth in the Bundesliga but arrive in London on the back of knocking out mighty Barcelona in the quarter-finals.

Chelsea 1 West Ham 0: player ratings

CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy - 6: Both goalkeepers were spectators in a lacklustre first half. More of the same in the second half for the Senagalese bar one double save from Yarmolenko that arrived before linesman’s flag went up. PA
CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy - 6: Both goalkeepers were spectators in a lacklustre first half. More of the same in the second half for the Senagalese bar one double save from Yarmolenko that arrived before linesman’s flag went up. PA
Trevoh Chalobah - 6: Late replacement for Andreas Christensen at back and lucky not to be punished in first 20 minutes after being caught dawdling on ball by Benrahma. Had shot saved by Fabianksi just before hour mark. Getty
Trevoh Chalobah - 6: Late replacement for Andreas Christensen at back and lucky not to be punished in first 20 minutes after being caught dawdling on ball by Benrahma. Had shot saved by Fabianksi just before hour mark. Getty
Thiago Silva - 7: Even usually reliable Brazilian gifted ball to West Ham in first half as Chelsea’s recent defensive wobbles continued. Not really troubled for rest of match, though, with West Ham offering little threat. Getty
Thiago Silva - 7: Even usually reliable Brazilian gifted ball to West Ham in first half as Chelsea’s recent defensive wobbles continued. Not really troubled for rest of match, though, with West Ham offering little threat. Getty
Cesar Azpilicueta - 5: Caught in possession, guilty of passing ball straight to opposition and saw weak shot easily blocked in poor start to game by Spaniard. Better after break as Chelsea improved as a whole. Reuters
Cesar Azpilicueta - 5: Caught in possession, guilty of passing ball straight to opposition and saw weak shot easily blocked in poor start to game by Spaniard. Better after break as Chelsea improved as a whole. Reuters
Marcos Alonso - 7: One ball just before break that Spaniard punted out for goal-kick summed up Chelsea’s first-half efforts going forward. Booked in second half for elbow into back of Soucek’s head. Persevered with runs down left and supplied cross for winner. Reuters
Marcos Alonso - 7: One ball just before break that Spaniard punted out for goal-kick summed up Chelsea’s first-half efforts going forward. Booked in second half for elbow into back of Soucek’s head. Persevered with runs down left and supplied cross for winner. Reuters
Jorginho - 4: Back in starting XI after missing Arsenal game and helped side dominate possession in first 45 but Italian, and team as whole, guilty of not moving ball around quick enough. Dreadful late penalty hit low and straight into hands of Fabianski. Getty
Jorginho - 4: Back in starting XI after missing Arsenal game and helped side dominate possession in first 45 but Italian, and team as whole, guilty of not moving ball around quick enough. Dreadful late penalty hit low and straight into hands of Fabianski. Getty
N’Golo Kante - 7: Drilled game’s first shot on goal wide of target and was home team’s liveliest player in first half, which isn’t saying much. Then had game’s first shot on target – albeit a deflected one straight at goalkeeper - after 57 minutes. AFP
N’Golo Kante - 7: Drilled game’s first shot on goal wide of target and was home team’s liveliest player in first half, which isn’t saying much. Then had game’s first shot on target – albeit a deflected one straight at goalkeeper - after 57 minutes. AFP
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 5: Decision making and final ball sadly lacking with Chelsea crying out for some midfield creativity. EPA
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 5: Decision making and final ball sadly lacking with Chelsea crying out for some midfield creativity. EPA
Mason Mount 6: Strangely subdued performance from England attacker and little impact until 70th minute shot was blocked by Dawson. Curled shot just over bar minutes after Pulisic goal. Getty
Mason Mount 6: Strangely subdued performance from England attacker and little impact until 70th minute shot was blocked by Dawson. Curled shot just over bar minutes after Pulisic goal. Getty
Timo Werner - 6: German buzzed around without any cutting edge. Had one shot that looked goal-bound until blocked at start of second half but then should have done better with two other efforts – one hit into side-netting, one straight at goalkeeper on the stretch. EPA
Timo Werner - 6: German buzzed around without any cutting edge. Had one shot that looked goal-bound until blocked at start of second half but then should have done better with two other efforts – one hit into side-netting, one straight at goalkeeper on the stretch. EPA
Kai Havertz - 3: Forgot he was playing in first half when his contribution and impact was non-existent. Little improvement after break in what was really disappointing showing from German. EPA
Kai Havertz - 3: Forgot he was playing in first half when his contribution and impact was non-existent. Little improvement after break in what was really disappointing showing from German. EPA
SUBS: Hakim Ziyech – (On for Loftus-Cheek 75’) 6: Drilled shot wide as Chelsea substitutes provided much-needed spark. Getty
SUBS: Hakim Ziyech – (On for Loftus-Cheek 75’) 6: Drilled shot wide as Chelsea substitutes provided much-needed spark. Getty
Romelu Lukaku – (On for Havertz 75’) 6: Hauled to ground by Dawson for late penalty only for Jorginho to fluff his lines. AFP
Romelu Lukaku – (On for Havertz 75’) 6: Hauled to ground by Dawson for late penalty only for Jorginho to fluff his lines. AFP
Christian Pulisic – (On for Werner 75’) 7: Grabbed unlikely winner minutes after Jorginho penalty miss. AFP
Christian Pulisic – (On for Werner 75’) 7: Grabbed unlikely winner minutes after Jorginho penalty miss. AFP
WEST HAM RATINGS: Lukasz Fabianski - 7: Enjoyed quiet afternoon in sunshine in first half as neither side managed shot on target. Finally called into action in second half with solid rather than spectacular stops. Easiest penalty save he’ll ever make from Jorginho’s powder-puff effort. No chance with goal. Reuters
WEST HAM RATINGS: Lukasz Fabianski - 7: Enjoyed quiet afternoon in sunshine in first half as neither side managed shot on target. Finally called into action in second half with solid rather than spectacular stops. Easiest penalty save he’ll ever make from Jorginho’s powder-puff effort. No chance with goal. Reuters
Ben Johnson - 7: Hammers’ patched-up defence coped easily with the home attack until late in game when Chelsea pressure, combined with Dawson red card, meant Hammers were finally opened up. AFP
Ben Johnson - 7: Hammers’ patched-up defence coped easily with the home attack until late in game when Chelsea pressure, combined with Dawson red card, meant Hammers were finally opened up. AFP
Craig Dawson - 6: Last centre-half standing for injury-hit Hammers. Brilliant flying challenge on Werner volley early just after break and another important block on Mount’s shot later in half. Had been immaculate until giving away late penalty for fouling Lukaku when he was then sent-off after VAR referral. AFP
Craig Dawson - 6: Last centre-half standing for injury-hit Hammers. Brilliant flying challenge on Werner volley early just after break and another important block on Mount’s shot later in half. Had been immaculate until giving away late penalty for fouling Lukaku when he was then sent-off after VAR referral. AFP
Aaron Cresswell - 7: Great recovery challenge after slipping on edge of box in first half and no problems defensively, one good block after break on Kante strike. No sign of his trademark balls into opposition box. EPA
Aaron Cresswell - 7: Great recovery challenge after slipping on edge of box in first half and no problems defensively, one good block after break on Kante strike. No sign of his trademark balls into opposition box. EPA
Vladimir Coufal - 5: Czech full-back played his part in West Ham’s resolute and well-organised defensive performance that probably deserved a point. AFP
Vladimir Coufal - 5: Czech full-back played his part in West Ham’s resolute and well-organised defensive performance that probably deserved a point. AFP
Tomas Soucek - 5: No chance to show his aerial prowess in home penalty area and should have done better with weak shot that was easily blocked after 56 minutes. EPA
Tomas Soucek - 5: No chance to show his aerial prowess in home penalty area and should have done better with weak shot that was easily blocked after 56 minutes. EPA
Mark Noble - 7: Only second start of season for club captain. Veteran was neat, tidy and held his own against Kante and Jorginho in middle of park here before being replaced just after hour mark. Getty
Mark Noble - 7: Only second start of season for club captain. Veteran was neat, tidy and held his own against Kante and Jorginho in middle of park here before being replaced just after hour mark. Getty
Arthur Masuaku - 7: Scored a freak late winner in the reverse fixture but no opportunity to repeat that here but impressive defensive work. AP
Arthur Masuaku - 7: Scored a freak late winner in the reverse fixture but no opportunity to repeat that here but impressive defensive work. AP
Said Benrahma - 7: Pressured West Ham defence well early on robbing both Azpilicueta and Chalobah of the ball. Good workrate but no sniff on goal for Algerian. Getty
Said Benrahma - 7: Pressured West Ham defence well early on robbing both Azpilicueta and Chalobah of the ball. Good workrate but no sniff on goal for Algerian. Getty
Pablo Fornals - 6: One decent ball through to Yarmolenko in first half but Spaniard failed to make any major attacking impact. Getty
Pablo Fornals - 6: One decent ball through to Yarmolenko in first half but Spaniard failed to make any major attacking impact. Getty
Andriy Yarmolenko - 6: Hooked shot across face of goal in first half when Benrahma looked better placed to take on chance. Denied by double Mendy save although would have been ruled out for offside even if he had found way past Senegalese keeper. PA
Andriy Yarmolenko - 6: Hooked shot across face of goal in first half when Benrahma looked better placed to take on chance. Denied by double Mendy save although would have been ruled out for offside even if he had found way past Senegalese keeper. PA
SUBS: Declan Rice – (On for Noble 62’) 5: Left on bench with Thursday’s Europa League semi-final in mind and couldn’t stop Pulisic scoring late winner. Getty
SUBS: Declan Rice – (On for Noble 62’) 5: Left on bench with Thursday’s Europa League semi-final in mind and couldn’t stop Pulisic scoring late winner. Getty
Jarrod Bowen – (On for Yarmolenko 73’) 5: No chance to make mark. Reuters
Jarrod Bowen – (On for Yarmolenko 73’) 5: No chance to make mark. Reuters
Manuel Lanzini – (On for Benrahma 78’) N/A. EPA
Manuel Lanzini – (On for Benrahma 78’) N/A. EPA

“I wouldn’t be disrespectful to a club like Frankfurt, they are fantastic, and you don’t reach this position without being a good side,” Noble added. “It’s going to be tough, but I believe we can win.

“It’s a group of players with no egos who work for each other and a manager who doesn’t let anything slide.

“If we play how we know we can play – with resilience, attacking play and defending as a team – I think we can win.”

And manager David Moyes says his team have shown they have what it takes to win big matches at the London Stadium.

“In the main, our home form has been pretty good,” he said. “Beating Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea shows that on our home patch on our day, we can be a good match for any team.

“To beat Barcelona over two games was an incredible achievement and it shows their qualities.

“They’re a big name in German football with incredible support. But we’ve got a really big stadium and a fantastic crowd. It’s really special that two teams with a history are back together.”

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
You might also like
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
While you're here
Illegal%20shipments%20intercepted%20in%20Gulf%20region
%3Cp%3EThe%20Royal%20Navy%20raid%20is%20the%20latest%20in%20a%20series%20of%20successful%20interceptions%20of%20drugs%20and%20arms%20in%20the%20Gulf%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMay%2011%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUS%20coastguard%20recovers%20%2480%20million%20heroin%20haul%20from%20fishing%20vessel%20in%20Gulf%20of%20Oman%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMay%208%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20US%20coastguard%20vessel%20USCGC%20Glen%20Harris%20seizes%20heroin%20and%20meth%20worth%20more%20than%20%2430%20million%20from%20a%20fishing%20boat%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMarch%202%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Anti-tank%20guided%20missiles%20and%20missile%20components%20seized%20by%20HMS%20Lancaster%20from%20a%20small%20boat%20travelling%20from%20Iran%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOctober%209%2C%202022%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERoyal%20Navy%20frigate%20HMS%20Montrose%20recovers%20drugs%20worth%20%2417.8%20million%20from%20a%20dhow%20in%20Arabian%20Sea%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESeptember%2027%2C%202022%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20US%20Naval%20Forces%20Central%20Command%20reports%20a%20find%20of%202.4%20tonnes%20of%20heroin%20on%20board%20fishing%20boat%20in%20Gulf%20of%20Oman%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%20train%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%20and%20synchronous%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20power%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E800hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20torque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E950Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEight-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E25.7kWh%20lithium-ion%3Cbr%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%203.4sec%3Cbr%3E0-200km%2Fh%3A%2011.4sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E312km%2Fh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20electric-only%20range%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2060km%20(claimed)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Q3%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1.2m%20(estimate)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Sly%20Cooper%20and%20the%20Thievius%20Raccoonus
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sucker%20Punch%20Productions%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%202%20to%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Brief scores

Toss India, chose to bat

India 281-7 in 50 ov (Pandya 83, Dhoni 79; Coulter-Nile 3-44)

Australia 137-9 in 21 ov (Maxwell 39, Warner 25; Chahal 3-30)

India won by 26 runs on Duckworth-Lewis Method

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

On Women's Day
On Women's Day
Kareem Shaheen on Canada
The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Details

Through Her Lens: The stories behind the photography of Eva Sereny

Forewords by Jacqueline Bisset and Charlotte Rampling, ACC Art Books

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clinicy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Prince%20Mohammed%20Bin%20Abdulrahman%2C%20Abdullah%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%20and%20Saud%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Riyadh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2025%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20More%20than%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Middle%20East%20Venture%20Partners%2C%20Gate%20Capital%2C%20Kafou%20Group%20and%20Fadeed%20Investment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Updated: April 27, 2022, 3:40 PM`
West Ham UnitedEuropa League